Camping

Reno-Tahoe Campgrounds

Reno

Davis Creek Regional Park

Location/Contact: West side of Washoe Valley, US 395 South (20 miles south of Reno). Ranger/Camping: 849-0684; Picnics: 785-4319 The park has 63 overnight campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Group camping and picnic facilities are available by reservation. An equestrian trailhead provides access to the Toiyabe National Forest.

This campground/day use area offers outstanding views of Washoe Lake and Slide Mountain. Individual picnic sites surround a small scenic pond upon which non-motorized boats are allowed. During the coldest months of winter, the pond freezes and makes a great ice skating area, which is free to the public. Nature trails are marked for a self-guided hike among the native flora and fauna. Group hikes may be arranged to explore the surrounding Davis Creek environs by calling the Ranger.

Although there are no hook-ups, longer travel trailers can be accommodated at 19 sites. Hot showers are available year-round. Group camping and picnic facilities are available by reservation.

Mount Rose

Location/Contact: Hwy 431- Mt. Rose Hwy, Reno, NV - (530) 882-2766, Forest Service, www.reserveUSA.com. From Highway 395 south of Reno, go 17 miles west on State Route 431. From Nevada State Route 28 at Incline Village on northeast shores of Lake Tahoe, go about 9 miles east of NV State Route 431. Mount Rose is located in Washoe County, NV.

Located at a high elevation of 9,300 feet, in the mountains, with an open conifer forest. Restrooms with flush toilets are provided. Roads and parking areas are paved. BBQ and picnic tables are provided at each site. Popular activities include hiking, fishing, swimming and boating (at Lake Tahoe, 9 miles west of this site). You can reach the Tahoe Meadows Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, Mt. Rose Wilderness Trail, and Mt Rose Summit Trail from here. Bring your own firewood or purchase bundles at the campground.

Washoe Lake State Recreation Area

Location/Contact: 4855 East Lake Blvd. Carson City, NV 89704, (775) 687-4319 Situated in scenic Washoe Valley, the park commands outstanding views of the dramatic Sierra Nevada range in the south and west and the Carson Range in the east.

The lake and wetlands provide ample wildlife watching, especially when heavy snowmelt from the mountains increases water levels. The park's Washoe Lake Wetlands Area, situated under the Pacific flyway, is a prime bird-watching spot and features an observation deck and interpretive displays. The 8,000-acre state recreation area supports more active recreation, too. Thanks to wind direction and strength, the lake is a favored spot for windsurfing. Other water uses include swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Anglers look for catfish, white bass, and the white bass-striped bass hybrids known as "wipers." Hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians find 12 miles of trails and plenty of wide-open space. There are 49 developed campsites and two group campgrounds, including one for equestrians.

Camp Shelly

Camp Shelly is a forested, 25-site campground located a few miles outside of the town of South Lake Tahoe.Community faucets with potable water are located throughout the campground.All facilities and equipment are available to our campers on a first-come, first-served basis at no additional charge. Kids love riding their bicycles around the campground loop and exploring the natural features of the campground.The campground is staffed by Park District rangers who are on duty daily to assist you and to maintain the camp. Special programs may be offered, usually on weekends, including campfire programs, ice cream socials, volleyball games, night hikes and astronomy programs. Stacked firewood and bagged ice are usually available for sale.

Size: 25 sitesFees: $35/night for residents & nonresidents (maximum of 8 people per site)Dates of operation 2011: daily from June 17 to Sept. 6

Campground by the Lake

Location/Contact: 1150 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA (530) 542-6096 The Campground by the Lake has 157 campsites. The park can accommodate R.V.s up to 65' long, but it has no available RV hook ups. Additional amenities include: dump station, free showers, BBQ's, picnic tables, and fire rings.

D.L. Bliss California State Park

Location/Contact: Hwy 89, South Lake Tahoe, CA (530) 525-7277 D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay State Parks Cover 1,830 acres in California's Sierra Nevada and include some six miles of Lake Tahoe shoreline. From promontories such as Rubicon Point in D.L. Bliss State Park you can see over one hundred feet into the depths of Lake Tahoe. From the top of Eagle Falls, in Emerald Bay State Park, you can see a brilliant panorama of Emerald Bay, Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, and the distant Nevada shore. D.L. Bliss' campgrounds offer over 150 campsites, and it can accommodate RVs up to 18 feet long. Sorry, no RV hook ups are available, but the park does have showers and flush toilets. The park's campsites can be reserved by calling the California State Parks reservation hotline at (800) 444-PARK, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) seven days a week.

Emerald Bay State Park

Location/Contact: Boat Camping Only. Hwy 89, South Lake Tahoe, CA (530) 525-7277 Emerald Bay State Park's Boat Camp campground has 20 campsites with mooring buoys. Boaters can either sleep on board their boat, or camp in a designated site on shore. Each campsite has a table, storage locker, and fire ring. Water is available in the campground, and there are chemical toilets. There are no showers. The Boat Camp is normally open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, depending upon weather conditions. All campsites--with buoy--are available on a first come, first served basis, and require a nominal fee and registration. For more information on the campgrounds, campsite fees, regulations, and reservation system, call (530) 525-7277. Emerald Bay State Park also features the Vikingsholm--one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere. Touring the Vikingsholm is like a stepping back into medieval times. The Vikingsholm home may be toured from mid-June thru Labor Day. Tours are given from 10:00 am thru 4:00 pm, every half hour. Tour fees are $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for children, and children under 6 are free.

Emigrant Group

Location/Contact: Forest Service, www.reserveUSA.com From Truckee, California, take Highway 80 east for 10 miles, take the Hirschdale Road exit and travel north for 8 miles to the Stampede Reservoir.

Kaspian Campground

Location/Contact: Forest Service, www.reserveUSA.com , (530) 583-3642, Four miles south of Tahoe City on California Highway 89. Kaspian Campground is part of the lake Tahoe Complex.

KOA of South Lake Tahoe

Location/Contact: Privately Operated RV Parks & Campgrounds. Hwy 50, South Lake Tahoe, CA (530) 577-3693 KOA of South Lake Tahoe provides a heated pool (May â€“ Sept.), playground, hot showers, modern restrooms, fully stocked general store, disposal station, and propane. KOA offers a variety of campsites that can accommodate anything from RVs to tents to pick up camping. RV campsites have full hook ups with electric, water and sewer. Cable TV is also available at select sites. For those that prefer to rough it, KOA has campsites for tents, tent trailers, and pick ups. All campsites have a picnic tables, campfire rings and bbq grills.

Meeks Bay Resort

Location/Contact: Camping & RV Parking. Hwy 89, West Lake Tahoe, CA - (530) 525-6946 or (530) 583-3642 The resort's campground has 10 RV sites and 20 basic campsites. The park can accommodate a R.V. up to 30' long. Full hook ups are available at some--but not all--of the RV sites. Some of the resort's other amenities include: showers, marina, store, and snack bar.

Nevada Beach Campground

Location/Contact: Forest Service, www.reserveUSA.com, Lake Tahoe Basin, Zephyr Cove, NV - (775) 588-5562 This is part of the Lake Tahoe Complex. Nevada Beach Campground is located 2 miles east of California and Nevada state line on US Highway 50. Go north on Elks Point Road 1/4 mile (near Zephyr Cove, Nevada). Firewood is sold on site. Facilities provided include flush toilets and telephone. Gas, groceries and laundry are about a 1/2mile away. Stateline (Lake Tahoe), Nevada is 2 miles away. There is no dump station or showers on site. No all-terrain or off-highway vehicles in campground.

Sugar Pine Point California State Park

Location/Contact: Camping & RV parking. Ten miles south of Tahoe City on California Highway 89, West Lake Tahoe, CA (530) 525-7982 Home of the Ehrman Mansion, Sugar Pine Point State Park's campgrounds have 175 campsites, and it can accommodate RV's up to 32 feet and trailers up to 26 feet long. Some of the campground's amenities include: hot showers (during the summer), flush toilets, dump station, museum, pier, nature trails, and cross country skiing. Open year-round. With over 2,000 acres of conifer forest, the park has many miles of hiking trails within the park and a swimming beach that provides visitors with a variety of relaxing summer activities. The park also contains General Creek which has some of the clearest waters flowing into Lake Tahoe. The stream is open to fishing from mid July to mid September. The park's campsites can be reserved by calling the California State Parks reservation hotline at (800) 444-PARK, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Pacific Time) seven days a week.